This New York homage has been building ever since 1981, when it started at a small theatre just down the street from The Dakota, where John Lennon had been murdered.

It has grown ever since and this Nov. 12, 2010 recordings features an impressive list of contributors working out New York’s newly renovated Beacon Theatre.

From the moment Rich Pagano (The Fab Faux) kicks off the show with “Power to People,” Lennon’s spirit hangs memorably over the occasion. There are a host of highlights including Patti Smith and Tony Shanahan’s “Oh Yoko,” Shelby Lynne’s “Mother,” and a version of “Come Together” featuring Taj Mahal with Deva Mahal and Steph Brown.

In fact one of the few disappointments here is the normally reliable Alejandro Escovedo’s overly-dramatic “Help!”

Being the son of a Beatle has its advantages and its disadvantages if you decide to pick a career in music. Just ask Julian Lennon.

So yes, James McCartney is Paul’s son, and he bears a striking resemblance to the old man (but with lighter hair). Thankfully for him and for us, he doesn’t sound vocally like a clone. James McCartney has his own voice and his own songs and 14 of them can be heard in this double disc, along with tasty covers of Neil Young’s “Old Man,” and Carl Perkins’ “Your True Love.” Most of the music had appeared on two previous digital-only McCartney EPs but there are five additional songs here.

The material is a bit inconsistent but there are some serious diamonds as well, particularly the pure pop splendor of “Angel,” the darker, full-band rocker “Denial,” and the lyrically fascinating “Jesus Be My Friend.”